CHARLESTON, Illinois, April 3. EASTERN Illinois swimming head coach Elliott McGill is leaving the college coaching scene for a new position as head coach in Austin, Texas, the university announced today.

McGill is moving from central Illinois to central Texas, taking on the senior and age group coaching job at Nitro Swimming in Austin. Nitro was named as a Gold Medal Club in the USA Swimming Club Excellence program last season and is one of the top age group teams in Texas.

McGill took the EIU job in May 2011 at 25 years old, becoming the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I collegiate swimming. He had the distinction of training his younger brother Colin on the EIU squad for two seasons. During his time as head coach, Eastern Illinois was never able to crack the bottom half of the team rankings at the Summit League conference championships, but his athletes routinely set school records at the end of the season.

McGill was a student-athlete at EIU, graduating in 2009. In his short time in coaching, he has risen the ranks quickly to put himself in position to grow an already successful team in Texas.

McGill is the older brother of 2012 Olympian Tyler McGill. Elliot talked about the swimming tradition in his family, and taking on a college head coaching job at a young age, in an episode of “The Morning Swim Show” in November 2011:

Eastern Illinois press release:

Eastern Illinois Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Barbara Burke has announced the Elliott McGill will be resigning his position as the Panthers swim coach to pursue other professional opportunities.
McGill has been hired as the Senior/Age Group Coach for the Nitro Swimming Club in Austin, Texas and will begin his duties on April 28. Graduate Assistant Rachel McGrath and other EIU athletic staff will be responsible to manage the program following the spring term until a replacement is hired.
“Elliott has done a tremendous job as the Panthers head swim coach over the past several years,” said Burke. “I know this was a tough decision for him but it was a professional opportunity that will help him with the advancement of his career.”
McGill swam at Eastern Illinois from 2005-09 earning second team All-Summit League honors. A native of Champaign, Illinois, McGill earned both his undergraduate and master degrees from EIU in 2009 and 2012, respectively.
After a short time as a club coach and assistant coach at EIU, McGill was named the head coach in 2011. During his time the Panthers have set numerous school records, with multiple athletes earning All-Summit League honors. Academically the Panther swim teams have excelled with the men’s team ranked number two in the nation in team GPA in 2013.
“I would like to thank Barbara Burke, and the rest of the EIU Administration, for giving me this opportunity three years ago,” said McGill. “I’ve been a part of EIU swimming for nearly a decade. I look forward to becoming an engaged and proud Alumnus of EIU and the EIU Swim Program as I join Mike and Tracy with Nitro Swimming.”
McGill added, “I would also like to thank the swimmers for everything they’ve done and accomplished over the last three years and to thank the Charleston Community as I have enjoyed coaching many of your children at our clinics and through the Summer Recreation program.”

Author: Jeff Commings

Jeff Commings is the host of several shows on SwimmingWorld.TV, including "The Morning Swim Show," which features interviews with people making headlines in aquatic sports. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism and was a nine-time NCAA All-American.